Boy band star fined £4,000

Singer Jason Brown was ordered to pay more than £4,000 to charity yesterday after being found guilty of assault.

The 25-year-old 5ive star, known as J, punched businessman Finan Gallagher in a Dublin pub last December after a row over rival boy band Westlife.

Brown, who claimed he had acted in self-defence, was convicted of assault, being drunk and disorderly and using abusive and threatening language. The fine will be paid to a fund which helps babies born to drug addicts.

Mr Gallagher, 26, told the Dublin court he was in the Palace Bar when Brown and fellow 5ive member Ritchie Neville arrived in a large gang.

'A friend of mine said he believed they were 5ive,' he said. 'I said I had never heard of them. I said I knew who Westlife were and that they were good.'

Neville shouted obscenities at him and Brown punched him on the cheek.

Outside court, Brown, whose group split last month, said: 'I am sorry I whacked that guy. It's not like me to do something like that.'